Hi Judge. I'm so sorry to read what you are going through right now. It's never an easy decision and today marks the day I had to put my 17-year old Oriental Shorthair boy, Romeo to sleep. He had liver failure due to his age and I chose to do an at home euthanasia for him. It was the best decision I could have done and I even had a going away party with my family to celebrate his life.

I think everyone on this board loves their pets unconditionally so there's no doubt in my mind you do too. You will be constantly reminded of Bricks daily. That being said, the pain *does* get better but never goes away. What does remain is the love you had which you will find carried over to other things in your life.

Hugs,
NJC

I'm sorry Judge, that always sucks. Between the wife and I we've outlived a good number already and they're all missed terribly.

Riley, the orange tabby I talked about above, took a turn for the worse last Tuesday - probably has a blood clot in his lungs. He's slowly getting better, but still has to be in an oxygen cage. Which isn't a life for a cat. We decided to give it a couple of more days, but it doesn't look really good.

We outlive all of our pets except the last one, I guess. But this is a tough one - in the past it''s always been a pretty clear decision on when to do the right thing for the animal. This time, not so much - he's bouncy and loving in the cage.

MM MD

Thanks for your messages guys. It's happy at our house and there are many less tears now. This is the first time I've dealt with mourning for a living thing, that I've spent every day with.

Judge,
Glad to hear things are slowly turning around towards the bright side....it's going to be a slow incremental climb but you guys will get there. one day at a time.

Well we got 3 kids under 6 and another dog so there's plenty of love to go around here. I'm sure that helps.

I really feel for someone who loses a pet and that's all they had

As I feared, we got called from the vet today and Riley the orange tabby had taken a turn for the worse. New ultrasound showed a tumor next to his heart.

I had to drive over and hold him while he was put to sleep. He purred until his heart stopped....

MM MD

RIP Riley.

rip
Bet he had a great life, and we should all be so lucky to finish life that way.

Sorry to hear about your cat Riley, hobbes.

Sorry about Riley, Hobbes. Glad he had you to care for him and had a good life.

Sorry to hear that. That is a heart-breaking experience.

RIP Riley.

RIP Riley...that sucks.

Nothing I enjoy more in this world than when my cat Frankie jumps up on my chest, head-butts my face, and then settles in for a bit of purring and face-rubbing. Never mind that I can't see the TV now.

So I feel for you, Hobbes.

Thanks all. It is tough.

Funny thing is, I'm kind of catless now. We have two in the house, but they're both my wifes cats - one basically hates me because I'm the bad guy when she has to go to the groomer/vet, and the other is a black rescue that had been abused and took my wife years to turn around. He's friendly enough, but definitely a momma's boy.

So probably back to the shelter in the near future.

MM MD

back to the shelter is one of the quickest ways to heal.

Back to the shelter it was. Picked up an orange tabby male. I'd try to post a pic, but he's hiding behind the laundry room sink.

So, back to three cats.

MM MD

glad to hear...looking forward to the pics.

dom, that's not one of those furry butt plugs left over from your previous career, is it?

Old dog is old...



Pushing 14 years old now...

RIP to the greatest dog in the history of the world, Shiloh.

She would have been 12 years old 12/31/17 but passed away at about 1AM this morning. Shiloh was a black lab that loved, loved, loved people (especially kids) but really couldn't be bothered with other dogs. She was intuitive & smart and always made things really easy on my wife & I and/or whoever was watching her. She would comfort you when you were down, often with kisses to the face when you were least expecting them.

She loved treats of any kind (seriously, I mean anything) but her favorite foods were pizza crusts & carrots, of which we kept her in great supply! She loved to fetch tennis balls more than any dog I have ever seen and would keep going for as long as I could throw them (and then some.)

She had many nicknames over the years, here are a few:

Pumpkin
Little Pumpkins
Pumpkin Pie
Shizey Shize (her rap name)
Girly Girl
Girlsie
Baby Girl
BBG

I am completely devastated but my life has been so, so much better with her in it over the last 10 years and 1 month that I knew her (she was my wife's doggie and was about 1 1/2 when we met.) I loved her as she loved me, unconditionally.

RIP, my sweet girl. You will be missed.

Sorry Lew...sounds like you have a fine life, though.

That was a beautiful tribute, Lew. RIP Shiloh.

Sorry to hear.

RIP